The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-02
A CHRISTMAS PLEA FOR THE RICH.
A Large Measure of sympathy Due to the
Wealthy Who Are Not Always with Us.

| A CHRISTMAS PLEA FOR THE RICH.
A Large Measure of sympathy Due to the
Wealthy Who Are Not Always with Us.
Charles Dudley Warner. il December Harper.
Christmas is supposed to be an altruistic fes-
tival. Then, if ever, we allow ourselves to go
out to others in sympathy expressed by gifts
and good wishes. Then self forgetfulness in the
happiness of others becomes temporary fashion.
And we find-do we not2-the indulgence of the
feeling so remunerative that we wish there were
other days set apart to it. We can even under
stand those people who get private satisfaction
IN being good on other days besides Sunday.
There is common notion that this Christmas
altruistlc sentiment is particularly Shown toward
the unfortunate and the dependent by those
more prosperous and in what is called better
social position We are exhorted this day to
remember the poor. We need to be reminded
rather to remember the rich the lonely, not
easy-to dissatisfied rich. whom we do not ALWAYS
have with us. The drawer never sees a very
rich person that 1t does not long to give him
something, some token, the value of which Is
not estimated by its cost, that should be a con-
soling evidence to him that he has not lost sympa-
thetic touch with ordinary humanity. There is
great deal of sympathy afoat in the world,
but it is especially shown downward in the
social scale. We treat our servants-supposine
we are society-better than treat each other.
Ii We did not, they would leave We are
kinder to the unfortunate or the dependent than
to each other, and we have more charity for
them.
The drawer is not indulging in any discr;m-
mate railing at society. There is society and
society. There is that underlined something,
more like machine than aggregate of human
sensibiltes. which is set going in :.season," or
itself for certain social manifestations. 1t is
this that needs a missionary to infuse into it
sympathy and charity. If it indeed a
machine and not made up of sensitive personal
tiles, it would not be to its members so selfish
and cruel 1t would be less an ambitious
scramble for place and favor, less remorseless
toward the unsuccessful. not so harsh and hard
and superciEous. In short. it would be much
more agreeable if it extended to its own mem
bers something Of the consideration and sympa-
thy that 1T gives TO those it regards it's in
fer1ors. 1t seems to think that good breeding
and good form separable from kindness,
and sympathy and helpfulness. Tender-hearted
and charitable enough all the individuals of this
society" are to persons below them in fortune
or position, let us allow, but how are they to
each otherf Nothing be ruder less con-
siderate of the feelings of others than much of
that which is called good society, and this is why
the drawer desires to turn the altruistic senti-
ment of the world upon it in this season, set
fortunate are the fortunate if they are lifted
into sphere which is sapless of delieacy of feel
ing for its own Is this an intangible matterf
Take hospitality for instance. Does it consist in
astonishing the invited; in overwhelming him
with a sense of your own wealth, or felicity, or
tamil ~, or cleverness even, in trying to absorb
him IN your concerns, your success. your pos
sessions, in simply what interests you7 How
ever delightful all these NAV be it is an offensa
to his individuality to insist that he shall admire
at the point OF the social bayonet. How do you
treat the stranger2 Do you adapt yourself and
your surroundings TO him, Or insist that he
shall adapt himself to you'll How often does
the stranger, the guest, sit in helpless agony in
your circle (all of whom know each otherj at
table or in the drawing room, isolated and sep
arate, because all the talk is local and personal
about your little world. and the affairs of your
clique, and your petty interests, in which he OF
she cannot possibly join us2 All! the Sioux
Indian would not be so cruel as that to guest
There is no more refined torture to sensitive per-
son than that. Is it only thoughtlessness7 II
is more than that. 1t is want of sympathy of
the heart. or it is lack of intelligence and
broad minded interest in affairs of the world ard
N other people 1t is this trait-absorption in
society more or less, that makes
it so unsatisfactory to most people in it. just
> want of human interest; people do not come
n contact.
Avid pursuit of wealth, or what is called
other and 1nfuses into the higher social life,
which should be the most unselhsh and enioya-
ole life. a certain vulgarity. similar to that
1ouced in well-bred tourists scrambling for
seats on top of a mountain coach. A person of
refinement, and sensibility and intelligence. cast
house, the radiant. twelve button society, has
been struck with infinite pity for it, and asks
he drawer to do something about it The
drawer cannot do anything about it 1t can
'nly ask the prayers of all good people on Christ
mas day for the rich. As we said, we do not
hey are gone to Canada tomorrow. But this
S. OF course, current Righteousness. The rich
re good as anybody else. according to their
lights and if what is called society were as
ood and as kind to itself it is to the poor, it
would be altogether enviable. We are not of
hose who say that in this case charity would
over multitude or sins. but diffusion in
lety of the Christmas sentiment of good viii
nd kindness to itself would tend to mako
universal the joy on the retI m of this season.